Stromlo Forest MTB Park

Stromlo Forest Park is Canberra’s flagship mountain biking destination and one of Australia’s best-known purpose-built MTB parks. Located around 15 minutes from Canberra’s city centre, the 1,200-hectare multi-sport precinct offers more than 50km of professionally built and maintained mountain bike trails, catering for everyone from first-time riders through to experienced XC, enduro and downhill riders. The network has a huge variety of riding, with green, blue and black trails spread across Mount Stromlo. Expect flowing singletrack, technical rock features, berms, jumps, drops, natural obstacles and long descents, alongside dedicated climbing trails that allow riders to pedal their way back up for another run. Stromlo has a particularly strong cross-country heritage, having hosted the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Today there’s an extensive XC network where riders can link trails together into anything from a short beginner loop to a substantial ride around the mountain. Gravity riders are equally well catered for, with dedicated downhill and jump trails descending from the upper mountain. Popular trails across the wider network include Luge, Pork Barrel, Old Duffy Descent and Trebuchet, with everything from fast flow to serious technical terrain. Current Trailforks mapping shows more than 100 individual MTB trail sections across the broader park. One of Stromlo’s biggest advantages is the shuttle service, allowing riders to maximise their descending rather than climbing for every lap. The official shuttle currently operates Friday to Sunday, on public holidays and during ACT school holidays, generally taking riders to the top of the mountain every 40 minutes. There’s also plenty for riders developing their skills. Stromlo has the Evolution Coaching Trails, The Playground and a pump track, providing dedicated areas to practise cornering, jumping and technical features before taking those skills onto the mountain. Adaptive riders are well catered for too, with current mapping identifying more than 20 adaptive-accessible trail sections, adding to Stromlo’s appeal as a genuinely broad cycling destination. The main precinct includes parking, an event pavilion and nearby café/bar and bike hire, while the park also features a 1.2km criterium circuit and other cycling and recreation facilities. For riders searching for Stromlo MTB, Canberra mountain bike trails, Mount Stromlo MTB, downhill MTB Canberra or ACT mountain biking, this is the region’s must-know destination and easily worth building an entire day of riding around. RTS Tip: Stromlo is big enough that it pays to plan your ride around your ability and preferred style rather than trying to cover everything. Newer riders can stick to the green loops and progression areas, trail riders can build a big pedal-powered adventure, while gravity riders can grab a shuttle pass and concentrate on the descents. All designated MTB trails are one-way, and individual trails can close for maintenance, events or weather, so check the official trail status before riding.